Thursday, 31 October 2024

Ministers statements: child protection

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:31): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government is reforming the child protection operating model. At the outset, while those opposite run down our child protection workforce, I want to acknowledge the dedication of the Victorian child protection workers seen every day in their continued delivery of critical services across the state. They undertake challenging work, and it is the role of each of us in this place –

David Davis: On a point of order, President, ministers statements are not an opportunity to attack the opposition. That is where she began, and I think she should retract it.

The PRESIDENT: There are a number of rulings, and people who have been here for a while have probably heard those rulings and understand those rulings, that answering questions is not an opportunity just to hop into the opposition. There is nothing around ministers statements. I prefer that statements are heard in silence, but if someone does provoke a response then it is pretty hard for that to be in silence.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: Our child protection workers undertake challenging work, and it is the role of each of us in this place to acknowledge, support and thank them for the contribution they make to keeping children safe and families strong. It is essential that the operating model is strengthened in a way that supports child protection workers in their efforts to do the best for our children, whose needs are ever more complex.

While we appreciate all of Dr Bach’s contributions to improving the child protection and family services system, the operating model, also known as CPOM, was in place when he was an adviser to Minister Wooldridge. The system and our workforce have changed since 2012; indeed Dr Bach is on a whole new career path. As just one example, though, we have funded 1180 child protection practitioners since coming into government, an increase of 85 per cent, and now we are implementing a more contemporary child protection operating model, which reflects the significant growth of the workforce, responds to current challenges and demands and gets the best outcome for children, families, their carers and child protection practitioners. There will be more senior staff under the new structure and more frontline practitioners supporting children and families than ever before, and this model will support increased staff supervision and retention as well as more robust case planning and risk assessment that addresses the increasing complexity of children and families. The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing undertook a formal consultation process between July and October 2024 with child protection practitioners to seek their advice –

Members interjecting.

Nick McGowan: On a point of order, President, I cannot hear the minister praising Dr Bach.

The PRESIDENT: I think it is actually a well-timed point of order. I did say that I expect statements to be heard in silence, whether they are members statements or ministers statements. But if some people might be provoked by what the person is saying, it will invite interjections and it is very hard to call for order. There is a lot of noise coming from both sides of the chamber, and particularly this side, which was not helping the minister.

Lizzie BLANDTHORN: As I was saying, there will be more senior staff under the new structure and more frontline practitioners supporting children than ever before. The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing undertook a formal consultation process with child protection practitioners to seek their advice and feedback between July and October 2024, and I thank the workforce for their engagement and their feedback during this process. Preparation has commenced and the implementation of the new model is being phased in from early next year. It is this side of the house that backs those essential workers that support the best interests of our children.